Tank filling device



May 26, 1942. c. F. PYE

TANK FILLING DEVICE' Filed April 24, 1941 l Inventor (PLF. Pye

'27W' am fr fak/Yer Z Z. Z I; A

parts of the motor.

' fuel for said motor operation.

Patented May 26, 1942 i narran] Tes PATENT OFFICE TANK FILLING DEVICE 1 Carl Fraser Pye, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada I Application April 24, 1941, Serial No. 390,174 (or. 12s- 136) 'l Claims.

This invention is an improvement over my,

previous inventions of Tank filling devices embodied in Patent Number 2,225,844, dated December 30, 1940, and in application Serial Number '300,460, led October 20, 1939.

rI'he principal object ofthis invention is the same asthe above mentioned inventions, namely; to provide a valve which may be positioned on the ller member of an elevated tank, and by utilizing the low pressure developed in an inter- Vnal combustion motor, through a pipe connected therebetween, liquid may beA drawn up into said elevated tank through a secondary pipe from a lower container.

ing operation to prevent same fromjcollapsin'g,

shut off the suction when the elevated tank is.

nlled, and supply atmospheric air to the elevated vtank after the suction has been shut oirall by the operation of one movingpart.

A further obiect of the invention is to provide means whereby the pre-determined pressure can be changed to a second pre-determined pressure rwithout requiring adjustment or an addition'ofA parts, or any required pre-determined pressure can be had by substitution.

A further object of the invention` is to pro'- vide means in the liquid elevating pipe for assisting in the 'elvation of said liquid and so permit the use of higher pressures in weak tanks for the purpose. j

A further object of the invention is toprovide means for supplying fuel to the motor during and after thelling operation and until the carburetor of said motor is suppliedwith suflicient A further object of the invention is to provide means for preventing the foam, formed in Vthe elevated tankduring thelling operation, from interfering with the operation of the mechanical parts of the device.

A still furthenobject of the invention is to construct the device in a simple, cheap and durable manner and such, that a variety of materials may be utilized for the principal working part thereof. Y

With the above important objects in view, together -with other minor ones'that will `become apparentv as the description' proceeds; the invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter more particularly described', reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which: Y

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing an elevated tank with the invention installed and connected to a 'motor and a lower tank.

Figure 2A is an enlarged vertical section through the upper part of thev elevatedtank and the nlling device.V Y Figure 3A is anY enlarged horiZon'tal. sectionl taken on the line 3 3, Figure 2, Figure 4 is a reduced vertical section taken `on VVthe line 4 4, Figure 3, and looking inthe direction of the applied arrow. A

Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken through the lowerpart of the liquid elevating pipe.

Figure 6' is an enlarged section through lthe v shut-off valve. l

vthe dotted line 1 1, Figure 3, looking in the Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure. 4, taken on direction `of the applied arrow and showing` a modified construction.

In the drawing like 'characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in'the several figures. An elevated tank is indicated at l, provided with a'filler member 2 on which the ller valve .3 is supported. The lower part of the filler valve is circular and threaded to receive a nut' 4hav- I ing its periphery shaped similar to the ordinary iller cap (not shown). with a circular ange 5 which rests on a gasket The Valve is provided E supported from the filler member andthe' nut and threaded portion above mentioned projects.

through the nller member into the tank. Due to the shape of the nut, an operator can attach the yvalve and, by giving it a rotating twist,lock it to the ller member, the gasket forming a re-V silient seal to make the connection air tight. l

As the construction of this nut and the Afiller vmember is detailed in both my 'previous applications, a repetition of same here is felt to be unnecessary. If desired, on the other hand, the

nut 4 can be dispensed with and the operator y can hold the valve down against the gasket Vduring the lling operation.V

Anv L shaped passageway 1 passes through the valve 3 and connects the interior of the elevated .tank with va flexible tubingl 8, which is suitably fastened to said valve'as Vby being slid over the intake manifold with thervalve 3. control lever 34V the vvalve 30 can .be operated to projecting portion 9 thereof, or screwed to the threads shown at 9'. The lower end of the tubing projects downwardly into a lower liquid rllledY tank I where it is immersed. A special con.

struction for this end of the tubing is used in certain cases and will later be described.

A further passage II passes throughthe valve` i 3 from the top to the bottom. This passa-gais separated from the passageway 1 by a partition I6 in the bridge vfor the entrance of atmospheric air. The ljet hole I is provided withv a tapered seat I1 which is normally closed against the atmospheric air bythe pointed lower endof a pen,-

cil shaped member I8 positioned freely 4within the passage. I I. The partition I2; opposite thememis normally supplying'a carburetor `(not shown) on said internal combustion motor by gravity, it will be'seen that the partial vacuum in the elevated tankwill interfere and shut off this flow, and as the motor continues to operate the said carburetorwill become depleted or empty. In order tomaintain said motor operating during Ythe lling operation, `liquid gasoline passes' through the pin hole 1I9 in the partition I2 and mixes with thepassinglvapor which also carries strong gasoline fumes, and this forms a highly explosive" mixture receivableby the motor. Some i of thisliquid gasoline will not becomevaporized in its movement along the passage and will pass downinto the casing 26 around the member 28 forminga small reserve. 'The value of this re-.

serve will be later explained. i

If, for any reason, the airA pressure in the elevated tank should become reduced to a dangerous level such as by the clogging of the tubing 8 or lpassageway 1, the member I8 will be of aweight such,v that the; air pressure from the passage I6 will besucient to lift same and permit atmosber I8, is` provided with a pinhole I9 which con# -nects the vpassage II with tl ie L shaped passage#` way 1 Vat'r the bend; Just above the pencil shaped member 'I8, the passage II isfurther obstructed'.

by a reduction nipple. 20 having alower tapered` seat 2I adapted toreceivethe'frustrum shapedV top of the pencil shaped member I8 as later described-- The Vupper. end of the passage II is closed by a screwV cap 22 to providea chamber 23 above the nipple. 20. Athole 24 connects this i chamber` witha T. connection 25 screwed tothe.

side of the valve 3.r i

The lower connection of ,the'r-.z 25 threadedly receives a circularhollo'w casing 26, having apin hole 21 in the bottom.Y 'The inner end of this pin hole isnormally ,closed by the lower pointed end of a pencil shaped member 28 freely positionedlin the casing andrsimilar` tothe 4member I8 previously mentioned. Y

The third connection. of 'the T 25 is connectedV Y by a short pipe 29 with a manually operable valve `3llrsho`wn in detailrin Figure 6;; Theopposite'end 'plieric air to enter.

In. other words; the member `I8 will bob up andvdown. opening and shutting the jet and V`so maintain the elevated tank at a safe pressure. During such operations and while only vapor is passing, the member will never rise Vhigh enough torenter' the seat 2 I and shut ofthe suction, due to its specific gravity. f'

At this time, it Amight be mentioned, that the gasoline pouring into the elevated tank from the valve 3 creates a foam on the top of the gasoline already in the tank. As the level ofthe gasoline in the velevated `tank approachesthe bottom of the `passage II, foam will pass therein until the liquid level rises and shuts off the supply. At

of this valve is connected by a pipe 3I withV the intake manifold .32 of an. internal combustion motor 33. The valve 38 `is`of the threeway type andas shown inFigure 6; directly connects the disconnect said manifold and connect the valve v3 to atmospheric f valve 30.

AThe. valve '3 is also provided with a further .passage 3S as shown in-Figures 3 and 4 and this By moving the -such time, the air in the'tank above the liquid and foam,V enters the passage II through the horizontal slot I3. The foam trapped in said passage is no longer agitated and is carried oil to the motor as vapor leaving` a clear liquid level rising. 'in said'passage. Vgasolinein the velevated tank reaches vthe hori- Vzontal`slot I3 it shuts olf the airentering same When theV foam on the similar `to-"a plug. Accordingly, the 4foamless liquid already inthe passage II rushes thereup air through the port 351th the passage connects the interior of the` elevated tank with the chamber 23 through a jet hole 31 controlledfby a manually operable screw threaded needle 38.* In this connection, it willbe noticed that the lowerend'of the passage; 36 connects vwith the interior of the elevated tank 'ata point and impacts against thelower end of the pencil shaped member I 8; Thissudden impact together with the air pressure from the jet I5 `throwslthe member I8intov the seat 2| of the nipple 28 thus shutting Voff the suction, except for" the slight v Vamount acting through the jet hole 31.'` As the bottom of the passage 36 is immersed in the gasoline, the fuel` is drawn thereup and meters past the needle38 to the intake manifold to keep the motor running. The needle; of course, will be suitably adjusted.

When the member I8 has shut ofi" the suctio theatxnospheric air from the jet I5 moves down the passage II to bring the elevatedl tank back to much lower than! that of therother two passages' 1andII.

`In operation, assuming that the valve 30 isset Y as shown inv Figure 6, theV motor running, the Yparts positionedV as shown-in Figures Zand 4 and the hose or tubing 8 inserted and immersed in 'the lower liquid lled V'Ihesuction created bythe motorwill draw air from the elevated tank pressure will causethe liquid in the lowertank to rise-up the. tubing andinto the'elevatecttank. `Assuming also 1 that the liquid being raised in,

gasoline and the 'gasolinein the elevated Atank iI .I through thepassage II andfthis reductionin .atmospheric pressure.

Y Accordingly, the surplus liquid in the elevated tank siphons back to the lower .tank via the passage 1 and tubing 8 until vthe bottom of the passageway 1 is exposed and breaks theV liquid connection. At the Sametime,

ther-,elevated tank walls which were previously drawn in'by the suction, resume their normal shape. `When all this has occurred, the gasoline level in the elevatedtank is just slightly above V'and covering the bottom of thepassage 36 so-that gasoline is still fed by suction past the needle 38. In tests made, it was found that the'gasoline going -up the Apassage 36 and past ther jet hole 31',V entered the; chamber 23 soyslowly; thatia vperiod of possibly tenv seconds might elapse vbeexcept that the gasoline or liquid win rise slightly fore -it reached themotor. Obviously, under vsuch circumstances the motor might stop. Further, when the elevated tank was being filled, liquid entered the passage II through the-pin hole I9 and was carried thereup by the passingy shuts off the suction below this point, the air pressure in the passage above the member I8 lowers. This causes the member 28 to rise under the pressure of atmospheric air through the hole 21. The sudden rush of1air therethrough raises the small reserve of gasoline aroundthe member 28 and carries it to theintake' manifold of. the'motor; This small supply is sufficient to keep the motor running until the supply from the jet 31 arrives.` tering through the hole 21 carriesv the jet fuel to the'motor and insures an explosive-mixture until the motor carburetor again supplies the proper mixture in the usual way.

Where the filling device is used on motors having two gasoline supply tanks, the T 25 and associated parts 26, 2'I and 28 will be dispensed with while the needle 38 will be screwed in to close the jet 31 and the pin hole I9 can be closed or dispensed with. This'is possible because one tank can be filled by the device while the other is supplying the carburetor in the usual manner` by gravity. The same thing applies where the moltor carburetor is'fed by a gasoline pump as such` pumps will draw the gasoline from `the elevated tank against the pul of the suction and feed such gasoline to the carburetor.

In the construction above described, the member I8 has been preferably made from aluminum andof a weight to close the jet I until the pressure in the elevated tank has been reduced below a pre-determined value. At the same time it is heavy enough to resist the pressure of -passing vapor but will be lifted by the -impact pressure of rising sucked liquid plus the pressure of the From then on the air en up the walls of the member before the foam reaches the slot I3 and as this member is con-'1 siderably longer, the sudden rush of liquid'up the passage II, when the air is excluded, will of course, can turn the lever of the valve l30 at Y any time after the suction is shut olf and the and very liable to .collapse if the inside pressurev air through said-Valve to the chamber 23 will cause either-the member I8 or 42 to drop back to its original position on its respective jet.

In some cases the fuel tank is rather thin is reduced' very-much.v In order toV raise the and is nowdescribed.

A straight metal pipe 43 is frictionally pressed into the bottom end of the flexible tubing 8.

At intervals down this pipe a line of pin holes 44 I pass through the wall thereof. 'I'he pipe will be approximately the height of the lower liquid containerV into which itis immersed. If the con- .Vtainer is full of liquid the line of holes will be covered and accordingly, suicient suction will be required from the motor to raise the liquid from the liquid level in the lower tank to the elevated tank. As the liquid in the lower tank falls, the holes 44 will become uncovered to admit atmospheric air. In actual tests it has been foundthatthis air will form in pockets at inincoming atmospheric air through the jet I5 and 'y so shut olf the suction. In order to die cast this valve and at the same time. use a varietyof other materials, especially lighter ones, for the movable pencil shapedmember, I have designed a modied form of valve shown in Figure 7 vand now described. l

In this design the screw cap 22 and the nipple 28 and the bridge I4 are eliminated. The chamber 23 is formed as a reduced extension of the passage II to provide the seat.2l. A passage 39 passes through the valve on the opposite side to that of the passage 35. The upper end of this passage communicates with the atmosphere. while the bottom end is tapped to receive a screw threaded U-shaped Vtube 40 having its curved end formed into a tapered jet 4I and positioned centrally under the passage II. Along pencil shaped member'42, similar to the member I8, is

. of pressure in the elevated tank during the lling tervals up the pipe separating the liquid and so lowering the total weight of liquid in the pipe and tubing between the lower tank and the elevated tank. The speed of the liquid up the pipe and tubing keeps the air pockets in position. The more holes exposed to the atmosphere, the longer or the more air pockets and the less weight of liquid per foot of pipe. Accordingly, liquid can be raised a given distance up such a pipe with less suction than would be required for an unperforated pipe. YThe size and spacing of the holescan be so arranged that, as the liquid level falls in the lower tank the intensity of the suc tion required to lift the ,liquid need not be increased. Of'course, Vas more airenters the pipe it will take longer to ll the elevated tank as the fiowis reduced. This system has been found lideal for Viilling the weak tanks above mentioned.

From the above it will be seen that either of the members I8. or 42 will regulate the amount operation. The same members will shut off the `suction when the tank is full, and as they lift to shut oi said suction,.they will permit atnflosphericy airto enter the elevated tank through either the jets I5 or 4I and bring the'tank back to atmospheric pressure.

In Ythe drawing it will be noticed that the members I8 and' 42, positioned as shown, will maintain the elevated tank at a given pre-de termined pressure for a given size of jet hole. By removing either of these members and replacing them, inverted with their frustrated ends in the jets, the pre-determined pressure in the elevated tanks will be altered. The frustrated ends rest on the'tapered walls of the jets and so expose a greater area of said members to the atmosphere. and admit 'air when the elevated tank is at a Accordingly, the members will lift Y :higher pressure 'than V`when thelmembers .had

.their pointed 'endsinfthe jets. Afterioncelifting',

- themembers willbouncefso to'speak, 'onthe incoming air,` letting injust sufficient vto .maintain fthe required pre1-determined pressure.3 Obviously, any 'desired .pressurecan be obtainedinthe tank w4.- In 'a tank iilling idevice having a `source :of

.suctionconnected through anA elevated tankto a lower liquid lled tankto elevate said liquid to saidlelevated tank: a weightpositioned for'ver- .tical movement in said suction connection betweensaid elevated Vtank and said source of sucby substituting members of' different fspecic gravity.

Thefslot +3 assures :thatthe foam-entering the motor, `during and 'afterythe .filling operation, is

onlyn'ecessaiy for motors :having Acarburetorsfed by gravity.A 'Such means arefnot'required vfor motors having gasoline 'feed'pumps v- -While I .have shown' .and described.meansv for lifting gasoline into Weak r'tanks :by a reduced suction, I. do Vnot wish to llie limited tolsucli "use as rsaid means may be used for raising manydifferent "kinds` of liquids'and'ifor many differentr purposes.

WhatIclaim asmy inventionis: y 1. In a device for'llin'g thefuel supplytank tion, normally closing an-opening toatmospheric .air and adapted -in its 4movementfto shuto said suctionto said elevated tank said'weigl'1t. adapted to lift and admit airl'tosaid -connection When-a pre-determined reduced pressure Aobtains in 'said connection and elevatedtank; 4and saidjweight adaptedtovrise; admit airfandshut off saidvsuction to said elevatedV tank by the impact '.pressure 'of risingliquid from said elevated tank.

v5. In a tanklling 'device wherein the suction from the moving pistons of :an internal .combustion motor is'connec'ted through said motor `fuel supply'tank with 'la lower fuel filled tank,.to .elevate said lowerfsfuel*to vsaid supply'':'tank:.-;a vweight positioned for .vertical movement `iri'saiii suction. connection between said 'supply tank @and said motor,'normally closing an opening to atmospheric air, and 'adapted in its Ymovementfto of .an internalV combustion vmotor: a'fluid conriection from theintake manifoldL of saidmotor, Y through vsaid supply tank, to a lowerfuel filled 4tank to elevate said-lower fuel'to said supply tank; means located vin said connection between `said manifold and said supply tank for shutting off the suction from said supply tank when said 'f' supply tank is `filled;` means Yilorsupplying land shut oi said suction to l'said vsupply tank;" said Weight adapted toA lift and admit air to said'connection When apre-determinedreduced pressure obtains in said connection; said 'weight 'adapted to rise, admit airnandshut ol said suction to said supply tank by the 'impact pressure of rising fuel in said'connection 'from lsaid supply-tank; means 'for dissipating 'foam entering said connection from said supply=tank before said liquid contacts v4saidshut o1fweight;"primary.m`ean's for supply.

ing acombustible mixtureto said motor along i said connectionduring said filling operation;

storing a reserve o'f 'fuellin'said connection during.

said lling operation; means for. admitting air'. to'said reserve-to carry same to said motor; and 1 means forsupplying a continuous flow Aof com-- bustible fuel to said motor-subsequent tothe shutting off of said suction. I Y

2. In a. device vm fiiiing the fuei supply' tank' of an internal combustion motor; a fluid connection yfrom the intake manifold of said motor, through said supply tank,-to a 'lower 'fuel iilledv tank to elevate saidllower fuel to said Vsupply tank; means located in said connection between said manifold and said supply'tank for` shutting `oii' the suction from said supplygtank Whenlsaid supply tank vis filled;r primary means for supply-* ing a combustiblemixture to'said motor, along said connection;Y during saidlling operation' means for 'supplying and storing a reserve of fuel kin said connection during said filling operation; if.

and secondary means for feedingsaidstored fuel as a combustible mixture to said motorsubse-` quent to the shutting od of said suction.

secondary-"means for supplyingi'a combustible mixture to said motor'subsequentto the shutting oi` of said suctiOm-.and :manually operable means for -disconnectingsaid suction from saidsuction connection. Y v 2i ri l6; In a tank filling device having a source of suction connected 'through' an elevated .tank toa lower liquid lledtankto elevate said liquid to .said elevated tank: a weight slidably mounted 'in y:said 'suction connection between saidv elevated tankand` said source* of suction; saidfw'e'ight having oneend formed in the shape of a frustrated cone; a tapered *openingfpro'viding a com- `munication between said suction c'onnection'and atmospheric airysa'idfend of said weight entering intofcontacting the walls of land closing said Vta- Y peredopening; and'said atmospheric air operable 3. In a tank filling device having a sourcepof suction connected throughfan elevated tank to a v lower' liquid filled tank to elevate said liquidfto said elevated tank:` Vmeans for'dissipating `the foam on liquid rising in said suction connection from said elevated tank; and means, operated by the Vimpact pressure of sucked rising liquid in said suctionconnection fromsaid elevated tank, for shutting off. said suction from Vsaid elevated tank. i

against said weight through said opening to .maintain a pre-determined reduced pressure in said elevated tank.

" a tank filling device havinga. source of suction connected through an elevated tank toa lower liquid lled tank to elevate said liquid to said elevated tank: .said suction connectionbetvveen sad elevated tankA and said lowerliquid filled tank, provided with poles for the entrance Vof atmosphericA air during the filling operationvof said elevated tank.

. i Y I l CARL FRASER .PYE. Y I v i 

